The journey to Lothering proved to be more difficult than Silveras thought because of many distraction on the road: from escaped soldiers, darkspawns and elf who should not be there in the first place, namely Theron Mahariel.
It surprised, and infuriated him to see the elf staggered his way back to Ostagar, alone, without the sight of Surana and Alistair. Part of him was grateful that the Dalish was alive but the other part was angry that he stupidly came back to Ostagar without back up.
"Are you mad?" Silveras scolded loudly when all of them were in secured area for some rest "when I left you to Surana, I expected you to stay safe and sound, but no, you just wanted to be a dickhead and stupidly come back to that hell hole for what, petty revenge? Do you have any idea what they would do to you? You were alone, Mahariel, without backup and nobody would save you in time."
"Say the man who left us at the tower of Ishal." Mahariel angrily retorted "I'm not some little child, Silveras. You cannot keep coddle me. I have a mind of my own."
"your stubborn mind will get you killed someday." Silveras snarled harshly "And what about the Grey Wardens? They need you…"
"I don't care about the Grey Warden." Mahariel screamed, pushed Silveras roughly to a tree, pulled a handful of the mage's collar "All I care is you. How could you expect me to leave you like that, my lethallin, to save the people that did nothing but enslaving my people? How could you force me to do the thing that I have already done to Tamlen?"
Silveras stared at Mahariel, stunned. He never thought that Mahariel would care for him like one of his own. And worse, Silveras forced him to revive the bitter choices that Mahariel had to choose back to when Tamlen was missing.
"Theron, I-"
"Forget it." Mahariel said bitterly, withdraw his hand "You would never understand."
Silveras watched Mahariel stomped out, guilt ate inside him but he ignored it, held firmly on the fact that what he did was for Mahariel's own good, even Mahariel hated him for it. He turned his head toward the camp, looked apologetically at Duncan and Fergus. He noticed that the king was somehow slipped out to follow the fuming elf, but he wasn't worry for his safety much. The king was more than a competent warrior and Mahariel so far was the most skilled rogue that Silveras had ever seen. Not to mention the guards were trolling nearby. They would be safe.
"Theron seems to be quite attached to you." Duncan observed "I've never seen an elf who would risk his life just to look for some human's well-being."
"I'm sure that his attachment toward me will end today if not already have." Silveras said sadly "Am I wrong trying to put him out of harm way?"
"If I were you, I wouldn't doubt myself for once bit." Duncan said firmly "You've done what you thought is the best for him, even he didn't agree with you. Just give him time, and he will understand."
Somehow Silveras really doubted Mahariel would forgive him easily, but he was willing to give the elf time. In this world, the dalish elf was the closest thing that he could call family.
While Silveras was busy musing, Mahariel and Cailan had another conversation on the other side of the forest.
"Why are you following me, shem?" Mahariel asked, annoyed. This peacock had been following him since he stomped out of the camp and he was too tired and angry to actually shoo him away.
"I thought that you would need a company." Cailan shrugged, his easy-going smile stilled placed firmly on his face "Especially after your spat with Silveras."
"I don't need a company." Mahariel scowled "Especially not from you, you sick pervert."
"Hey." Cailan protested "I thought you were spies back then, I just wanted to capture you, not that."
"As if I'm gonna believe you. You're practically drooling over me."
"Well, you're cut…handsome, I mean handsome." Cailan hastily lamented when he saw Mahariel's withering glare. One good thing that the man hadn't said that he thought Mahariel was a cute girl, or he would die in the most dreadful way.
"You shemlens are always quick with your charming and flattery." Mahariel rolled his eyes, his anger flatered slightly at the compliment.
"I assure you, there is only one master of flattery in Ferelden, and it's me." Cailan said charmingly "Let me tell you about the time I manage to charm three girls in one time."
Mahariel raised his eyebrow, looked in interest as Cailan bluffing about his sex life. The more they talked, the happier the elf seemed to be. He actually laughed at one of Cailan's joke once, his foul mood completely disappeared.
The party reached Lothering the next day. Mahariel was still crossed with Silveras, but he was in better mood than before. Silveras supposed that he should thank Cailan for cheering up Mahariel, since the elf was quite friendly to Cailan lately. Duncan and Fergus decided that they should camped outside the village so that they would not raise alarm to Loghain. Only a few people allowed to come inside the village to resupply and find out some information. This was where Silveras made his next move.
"Are you sure to go inside the village? Loghain's men would probably search for you right now." Duncan asked. Silveras was a valuable Grey Warden and he didn't intend to let Loghain have Silveras captured.
"Don't worry about it." Silveras replied "I have two warrior with me and a skilled rogue. Noone will hurt us."
"True." Duncan nodded "However, it would be best if you return before dawn."
"Yes, dad." Silveras rolled his eyes, said sarcastically.
He then turned to two warrior standing besides Mahariel: Carver and Aveline. It was not coincident that he chose those two as his bodyguards, just as it was not coincident that they were safely with the Cousland when the battle was lost. No, Silveras had told Mahariel to forge a false order from the king to remove Fergus Cousland's men and them to safety. It was a risk to remove a full well-trained army from the battle but it was a necessary risk. At least right now Carver and Aveline would travel to Kirkwall with the rest of the Hawke without unnecessary death. Carver looked younger than he expected, given that the man barely reached his eighteen this year, but his attitude was just exactly what the game had described. Aveline was different, though. Her hair was redder than the game, and she was less freckle. She was still as tall as he remembered, but more feminine than masculine. She was wearing a soldier armor with sword and shield trapped behind her back.
"Grey warden?" Aveline prompted
"Ah, yes?" Silveras snapped out of his musing.
"Where are we going?" She asked "Don't we suppose to buy some supply for our army?"
At the corner of his eyes, he saw Carver was fidgeting, looking anxiously at the small house near the bridge, which Silveras realized as Carver's home, where the Hawke lived. He tapped his chin, and spoke:
"No, we're not buying supply for the army. In fact, the reason I need you two here because I have a job for you. Though we need to be somewhere private, first. Carver, I heard you lived here before you joined the army. Have any idea about private place?"
"Well" Carver looked unsure for a moment "I guess we can go back to my house? It was a few step anyway, and my family doesn't pry…much."
"Very well, lead the way, Carver." Silveras said politely.
Carver led them to the house he had been eyeing the whole time they were here. The house closed, but Silveras could hear the faint noise inside, indicated that there were people home. Carver let out a deep breath and raised his hand to knock, rather loudly, at the door. There was some cursing, and cracking noise then a man showed up.
Silveras blinked at the sight of the man, and rubbed his eyes so that he wasn't hallucinating. In front of him was someone who looked exactly liked Loki in the movie Thor.
"Who- Carver?" the Loki-look-alike stared at Carver indreculously.
"Big brother." Carver said quietly, rubbed his neck nervously "I'm back."
"You bastard." Hawke, now that Silveras was sure, gave out an angry cry and punched Carver hard on the jaw "Do you have any idea how worry we are when you joined the army without notifying us? Mother was crying for days."
"Loki, what's going on?" An old voice rang up, and Silveras's eyebrow shot up to his hair. Not only Hawke looked like the mischief god in the movie but his name was actually the same? What next, he was an evil mage that wanted to rule the world?
"Mother." Carver breathed, looked at the newly appeared old woman. Leandra was rather short compared to her sons, and skinny. Her hair was grey, even though she looked no more than forty five. She widened her eyes when she saw her youngest son stood in front of the house with some strangers, but she paid no mind to ponder about it, only reached out and hugged Carver tightly.
"My son, you come back." She whispered, her eyes filled with tear "When the bann came back from the battle without you, I thought the worst."
"I'm sorry, mother." Carver said, and then blushing at the openly affection from his mother in front of his superior and companion "Mother, can you let me go? The grey wardens are here, and they need a private place to discuss something to me."
"The grey warden?" Leandra pulled back in surprised, now turned her head toward Silveras and Mahariel. She said hastily "I apology, I did not know Carver would bring guest."
"It is well, Lady Hawke." Silveras said easily "I'm should be the one to apology for our sudden appearance. But we in need of a private place to discuss about a favor that Carver and his companion Aveline will do for us, though you're welcome to hear it. It affects your family somewhat, anyway."
"What does it has to do with our family?" Loki asked suspiciously when he followed them inside the house "You better not harm our family with your so called mission."
"Stop it, brother." Carver said in irritation "The grey wardens are nice people. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't come back from the battle."
"I will be blunt to you. I need you to go to Kirkwall and take care of the Ferelden fleeing citizens there." Silveras said "As you should know, the Blight is coming and I need someone to a leader and protector for the blight survivors in Kirkwall in meantime."
"Why Kirkwall? Why not anywhere else?" Loki asked in distate.
"Because I believe you Hawke had some relatives in Kirkwall, Amell perhaps?" Silveras said, looked at Leandra. The old woman looked surprised but nodded
"It's true. My old family comes from Kirkwall."
"I understand that the Hawkes is needed in this mission. But why do you chose me?" Aveline questioned.
"The Hawke's is needed to deal with politics there as lady Hawke here was quite familiar with them but I need you to keep the Fereldens there in line. I read your profile, Aveline Vallen, and I'm impressed with your leadership. I think that if you and Carver work together, it would sufficient enough not to let another raid against Ferelden until the Blight is over."
"I see." Aveline nodded "Very well, I accept this mission."
"Thank you." Silveras smiled sincerely "What about you, Carver? Will you accept?"
"Wait a minute." Loki stepped his foot down "We will need to discuss this first."
"It's me he was asking." Carver cried angrily.
"I'm your big brother, I'm in charge." Loki said simply. He roughly dragged a protesting Carver in tow, Leandra trailed of behind them.
"So he was the rough one, huh?" Silveras mused. "And I wonder where Bethany is?"
After a long waiting, Loki finally came back, looked calculative. He turned to Silveras and said:
"We accept your propose in one condition."
"Oh, and what could it be?"
"If we want to quit this job, you will not stop us nor accuse us from deserting."
"I agree." Silveras nodded, pulled from his robe a large pulse "This is forty sovereigns for the journey and other needs. It should have last for a year or so. Use it wisely."
"Very well." Loki nodded, accepted the pouch. "Is there anything else?"
"I hereby stand here as a behalf of Ferelden to thank you for your courtesy to accept this mission. It is not an easy task, and I'm forever grateful that you're willing to offer a help when we need the most." Silveras bowed. "Now, I'm done here. I will leave you two to discuss your future journey and hopefully this would not the last time we meet."
"I-You're welcome." Loki looked rather uncomfortable at the bowing man "I will escort you out."
When Silveras was back outside, he was looked face to face with Mahariel, who refused to go inside a shem's house. The elf was looking at him with narrowed eyes and jaw set.
"You gave all the sovereigns I stole for you." Mahariel accused.
"So?" Silveras challenged him. "I did say it was needed for something else."
"We need it more for the blight."
"I assure you, it was necessary." Silveras said "Have you ever seen I did something that wasn't useful?"
"Your ego are way too big." Mahariel rolled his eyes, grudgingly accepted Silveras's reason. It was true that Silveras never did something deem to be useless for them after all.
The two of them walked around the village to buy some supply and search for any news toward Loghain and Surana. They managed to find some about Surana when they talked to the reverse mother in the chantry. She said that there was an elf with the same description passed here two days ago, asking her to release the qunari that she caged outside the village. When Mahariel heard about it, he scowled and glared at the reverse mother as if she had done a great crime. Silveras could somewhat understand why Mahariel had such a feud against the Chantry. It was them, after all, the ones who destroyed his ancestor's homeland because of some petty prejudge. However, fighting right now was not in his to-do list, so Silveras quickly dragged him out before the elf could rant and insult the reverse mother.
Another lead was from the villagers outside the inn. It seemed that Surana was really worried about the growing terror that happened in the Circle that he lost his cool and forced the answers out of the citizens. It was so not like the calm elf he had known back to Ostagar.
"You're back." Duncan noted when he saw the two of them "Good timing, too. We need you two to figure out what we should do."
Silveras nodded, went straight to Cailan's tent, which was also served as the meeting chamber. Fergus and Cailan were already inside, inspecting the map of Ferelden.
"Ho there, Silveras, Theron." Cailan said "I hope there is no trouble in Lothering?"
"Not that I know of." Silveras replied "Though I have some news."
"What is it?" Cailan asked curiously
"I found where Surana and Alistair had gone." Silveras said, pointed his finger toward the tower near lake Calenhad "It seems that the Circle was full of abominations right now and he needs to help them."
"I though the templars would take care of that." Fergus asked, confused.
"Not when blood mages are involved." Silveras answered "They had gone for a day now so we could not catch up to them in time. I suggest we go somewhere else and wait until they catch us."
"hmm, in that case we should go to Redcliffe." Duncan mused, pointed to the castle symbol across the tower near lake Calenhad. "Alistair had close connection with arl Eamon so if he wants help, he'll probably go there first. Besides, the arl is your uncle, he will protect you, your majesty."
"Providing that he finishes chewing my head off for my recklessness, that is." Cailan chuckled, but his voice was hard, which made Silveras wondered why the king was so hostile to his uncle.
"Very well, we will move to Redcliffe. There is another matter, however." Silveras hesitated "Commander Cousland, I do not think you would like to hear this."
"Why?" Fergus asked suspiciously, dread started to fill his stomach.
"There is a rumor that the Couslands were dead by bandits the day you went to Ostagar."
The silence was deafening. Fergus Cousland looked at Silveras blankly, his eyes were daze, as if he pretended not to hear about it.
"It's a lie." He murmured.
"Fergus." Cailan said cautiously.
"It's a lie." Fergus snapped "My family wasn't dead. They are still alive, and waiting for me back to Highever. They were teryn. Nobody would dare to hurt them. And they were skilled warrior, no bandits can harm them."
The more Fergus spoke, the more he became hysterical. Cailan tried to reason with him, but his effort was in vain. When they were unsure about what to do, Mahariel stepped up, and punched the man hard.
"Are you done?" Mahariel asked coldly "Denying won't have them return."
Fergus blinked up at the dalish elf, dazed. Tears started to flow down to his face.
"Your family doesn't need you to become like this. They need to have justice for their death, and you are the only one responsible to do the deed. So stand up now and drop your pathetic face. Prepare your sword until the time for revenge has come."
"Theron." Silveras murmured, gently pulled him back. He knew how Mahariel felt. He was practically in the same position and the need of revenge would really drive him mad if it wasn't for the fact that Silveras tried to take his mind out of it.
Fergus looked at his hand for a moment then took a swallow breathe. He stood up, and looked at Silveras:
"Who did this?"
"I heard that the Howe was in Cousland's castle the day they were attacked. Wouldn't it be surprised when Teryn Howe and his men did not have hurt anything during his stay when the Cousland was slaughtered?"
"Rendon Howe!" Fergus gritted his teeth "that bastard ambushed my family."
"It is madness, why would Howe kill the Cousland?" Cailan asked.
"I'm not sure about other things, but the Cousland was killed the day they planned to make reinforcement for the battle in Ostagar. Coincidence?"
Both Cailan and Duncan drew a sharp breathe. They now knew who was behind all of this.
"I assure you, Fergus. When we reach Denerim, I will have Howe executed." Cailan said firmly.
"But before hand, you should retake Highever." Silveras said "I heard that Howe returned to Denerim now, so the Cousland castle is empty, except for some guards. If you and your men attack them at night, you will reclaim Highever without them sending notice to Howe. Then I need you to contract to as many noble as possible to raise a rally against Howe and Loghain while I, king Cailan, Duncan and Theron gather reinforcement for the blight."
"A fine plan." Duncan praised "But wouldn't it be too dangerous for king Cailan? He's very important to Ferelden."
Before Cailan could form out any protest, Mahariel had already pointed out:
"He's not some child playing sword, Duncan. He had fought in the war and lived through it. We need a skilled warrior like him."
"It's true. But there is something more." Silveras said, turned to Cailan "I admit that you have a good heart, king Cailan, but you're far too inexperienced for it. A good king is the one who had experienced all the hardship from every kind of life, listened to different races of people and witnessed most of tragic scenario, but you so far hadn't done any of it."
"Silveras, it is out of line." Duncan scolded lightly, though he looked like he agree with it.
"No. What I said is the true. In the stone board, Alistair would have been king if you had died in Ostagar, and he was a good king. Not because it was in his nature, but because he survived both the Blight and the civil war. He had learnt from all the hardship during the war and grew up from it. If you want to be a great king to Ferelden, you have to do the same as Alistair. Ferelden needs a good leader who would take a good care of her not some petty soldier that seeks for glory."
Cailan stared at Silveras, unsure how to deal with this. On one hand, he should be offended by the accusation that Silveras had given him and threatened to have him hanged. On the other hand, he knew that what Silveras said was true. If he wanted to be a good king like his father Maric, he should follow Silveras's advice. He frowned, looked deep in thought and slowly nodded rectulantly:
"You're right."
"That's settled it." Silveras smiled "Now, we should take a rest. There's a lot of thing to do tomorrow."
Hopefully don't involve politics, he hated politics.
